Microsoft Flight Simulator recently received a massive new content update for its 40th anniversary, and one of the curious new tidbits is the ability to play old Flight Simulator titles within the cockpit of a specific virtual plane. The long-lasting franchise has a rich and storied history that has only grown more interesting as decades went by, and it would appear that the developer, Asobo Studio, knows what makes veteran players happy.
Specifically, Microsoft Flight Simulator received a wealth of new content to the game that's been a long time coming. The anniversary update's most noteworthy additions are helicopters and gliders, but the game has been upgraded in a number of ways that make the whole experience that much more enticing for players to keep coming back to. Easter eggs are an important element here, too, with one of them being more interesting and intricate than any other.
YouTuber Tom Warren discovered that there's a way for players to play the oldest Flight Sim games from within the cockpit of the new Microsoft Flight Simulator. In order to do so, players ought to load the Diamond DA62 aircraft and enter its cockpit mode. Once that's done, the game-within-the-game is engaged simply by toggling the ELT to the "on" position. The central cockpit screen will then feature the familiar classic MFS interface, and players will be able to choose between FS1, FS2, FS3, and FS4, all of them being fully playable.
Microsoft Flight Simulator's 40th-anniversary update was one of the biggest the game had received up until now. Players can enjoy a whole roster of new historical aircraft, such as the legendary 1903 Wright Flyer, as well as a fully true-to-life Airbus A310. Helicopters and gliders are obviously an equally exciting addition as the headliner feature, however, allowing players to experience Flight Sim in a way they never could before.
In the interim, Flight Simulator's world updates continue progressing as well, slowly but certainly adding more and more detail to the game's already bountiful selection of freely explorable locales. With an entire planet's worth of playable areas for players to explore however they see fit, the appeal of the game is obvious at a glance, and Asobo Studio continues to successfully capitalize on this remarkable feature.
With old Flight Sim versions now available for checking out Microsoft Flight Simulator, and with a wealth of additional post-launch content coming to the game in the future, it's plainly obvious why this is one of the best games to play while listening to podcasts. On a final note, it's worth pointing out that it's entirely possible that Microsoft and Asobo have hidden away more exciting Easter eggs with the 40th-anniversary update, though it goes without saying that it may take a while until they're all uncovered.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.